Worldwide, cervical cancer affects approximately 500,000 women annually and, after breast cancer, is the second-most-common malignancy found in women. Since the cause of cervical cancer — human papillomavirus (HPV) — is known and women who have it can be identified, it is a highly preventable and treatable disease if women have access to organized prevention programs. Cervical cancer is a significant and deadly threat to women in developing countries and in many countries it is the most prevalent cancer in women. QIAGEN is playing a leading role in the global battle against the disease in collaboration with local governments and international health organizations. A recent milestone in the preventive screening program using QIAGEN’s HC2 technology in Mexico shows the advances we are making on this mission.

In Mexico, 1 million women have been screened for HPV in 2013 with QIAGEN’s HC2 test. Based on health estimates, more than 100,000 cases of women at risk and more than 10,000 cases of early stage cancer were detected – most of whom could receive effective treatment. HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer. In 2013 alone, nearly 600,000 women were tested in Mexico and by June 2014, 1.23 million women will have been tested. Authorities in Mexico have partnered with QIAGEN, beginning in 2008, to screen women for cervical cancer risk using a complete solution of our collection device, high-risk HPV screening test, and HC2 automation in 23 laboratories nationwide. Mexico has screened 6 million women since 2008 and hopes to be screening 7 million each year by 2018. Under the previous screening effort, which used PAP smears, it took 20 years to get to a cumulative 1 million women, but it took just 4 years to get up to a screening rate of 1 million per year using the HC2 test. Mexico’s commitment is so strong that the law makes it mandatory for doctors to provide HPV screening to any woman who asks for it. QIAGEN Mexico is instrumental in the country’s leading role in saving women from the devastation of cervical cancer.

No organization or company can eliminate cervical cancer on its own. We are working with governments and NGOs around the world to provide affordable and sustainable solutions to implement HPV testing in developing countries. This is in addition to our ongoing community programs, in which we provide advocacy organizations with grants, educational tools, and expertise to build coalitions, educate women and clinicians, and offer services to further our goal of eliminating cervical cancer.

QIAGEN is committed to eliminating cervical cancer. In partnership with industry, governments, foundations, and international organizations, we can provide the tools to help win this battle in the global war on cancer. When HPV testing and HPV vaccines are accessible, available, and affordable for all women, eliminating cervical cancer will become reality.